New Curriculum’s focus on sustainability

New Curriculum’s focus on sustainability gets big tick

In unveiling a new national Curriculum today which has ecological sustainability as one of its key values the government has taken a vital step in securing a brighter future for generations to come.

Wendy Barry, WWF-New Zealand's Education Programme Leader, said:

“This is a very encouraging development for our formal education system. We now hope humanity's complete reliance on the health of the natural world cannot remain an afterthought in any classroom in the country.

“It is the next generation of New Zealanders who will have to take some of the toughest choices in history about the way we interact with the world around us. It is crucial that our schools properly equip them for this.”

There are already many great teachers around the country committed to giving their pupils a learning environment which emphasises the importance of relating positively to our natural surroundings.

WWF-New Zealand calls on the government to provide appropriate support to ensure that all teachers are capable to do this.

Recent research commissioned by WWF shows that only a small proportion of pre-service teachers in New Zealand receive training in Education for Sustainability.

All new teachers should start their careers as competent in sustainability and Environmental Education as they are in Maths or English if we are to see a sustainable future for people, the economy and the environment. Government, teacher training institutions, and schools are all responsible to make this happen.

ENDS

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